"What an eye ! " he cried, with sigh of relief ' just say But we won't talk of it Of all ghosts the ghosts old lovers are the worst Come billiard-room quiet cigar '

" day, amid all his cordiality, always touch of suspicion in Mr Trevor's manner towards me Even his son remarked it 'You've given the governor such turn,' said he, 'that he'll never again of what and what you don't know ' mean to show it, , but so strongly mind peeped out at every action At last I became so convinced that causing him uneasiness that I drew my visit to close very day, however, before I left, and incident occurred which proved sequel of importance

"We were sitting out lawn on garden chairs, the three of us, basking sun and admiring the view across the Broads, when maid came out that man door who wanted Mr Trevor

"' his name ? ' asked my host

"' give any '

"'What does he want, then ? '

"' that him, he only wants moment's conversation '

"'Show him round here ' An instant afterwards there appeared little wizened fellow with cringing manner and shambling style of walking He wore an open jacket, with splotch of tar sleeve, red-and-black check shirt, dungaree trousers, and heavy boots badly worn His face was thin and brown and crafty, with perpetual smile upon it, which showed an irregular line of yellow teeth, crinkled hands were half closed in way distinctive of sailors As slouching across the lawn I heard Mr Trevor make sort of hiccoughing noise throat, and jumping out chair, he ran house back in moment, and I smelt strong reek of brandy as he passed me

"'Well, my man,' said he 'What can ? '

"The sailor stood looking at him with puckered eyes, and same loose-lipped smile upon his face

"'You don't know me ? ' he asked

"'Why, dear me, surely Hudson,' said Mr Trevor in tone of surprise

"'Hudson , sir,' said the seaman 'Why, it's thirty year and more since you last Here in your house, and me still picking my salt meat harness cask '

"'Tut, that forgotten old times,' cried Mr Trevor, and, walking towards the sailor, something in low voice 'Go kitchen,' he continued out loud, 'and get food and drink that find you situation '

"' , sir,' said the seaman, touching his fore-lock 'I'm just off two-yearer in an eight-knot tramp, short-handed , and I wants rest I'd get it either with Mr Beddoes or '

"'Ah ! ' cried Trevor ' where Mr Beddoes is ? '

"'Bless you, sir, where all my old friends are,' said the fellow with sinister smile, and he slouched off maid kitchen Mr Trevor mumbled something about having been shipmate man when going back diggings, and then, leaving us lawn, he went indoors An hour later, when we entered the house, him stretched dead drunk dining-room sofa The whole incident left most ugly impression upon my mind, and not sorry to leave Donnithorpe behind me, for that my presence source of embarrassment to my friend

"All this occurred during the first month long vacation I went my London rooms, where I spent seven weeks working out few experiments in organic chemistry On day, however, autumn was far advanced vacation drawing to close, I received telegram from my friend imploring me to return to Donnithorpe, and saying that in great need advice and assistance I dropped everything and set out North once more

"He met me dog-cart station, and at glance last two months very trying ones for him He had grown thin and careworn, and had lost the loud, cheery manner he remarkable

"'The governor is dying,' were the first words

"'Impossible ! ' I cried ' the matter ? '

"'Apoplexy Nervous shock, He's been verge all day if find him alive '

" , think, Watson, horrified unexpected news

"'What has caused it ? ' I asked

"'Ah, point Jump in and talk it over while we drive You remember that fellow who came evening left us ? '

"'Perfectly '

"' who it we let house that day ? '

"' no idea '

"'It devil, Holmes,' he cried

"I stared at him in astonishment

"'Yes, it devil himself had peaceful hour since--not one The governor has never held up his head evening, and now the life crushed out of him heart broken, all accursed Hudson '

"'What power had he, then ? '

"'Ah, what give The kindly, charitable, good old governor--how could he have fallen clutches ruffian ! But so glad that come, Holmes I trust to your judgement and discretion, and that advise me best '

"We were dashing along the smooth white country road, long stretch Broads in front of us glimmering red light setting sun From grove upon our left already see the high chimneys flag-staff which marked the squire's dwelling

"'My father made the fellow gardener,' said my companion, 'and then, satisfy him, promoted butler The house seemed at his mercy, and he wandered about and did what he chose The maids complained drunken habits vile language The dad raised their wages all round to recompense them annoyance The fellow would boat and my father's best gun and treat himself to little shooting trips And all this sneering, leering, insolent face that knocked him down twenty times over if he man own age I tell you, Holmes, tight hold upon myself all ; and now asking myself whether, if I had let myself go little more, I wiser man

"'Well, matters went from bad to worse , and this animal Hudson became more and more intrusive, until at last, on making some insolent reply to my father in my presence one day, him shoulders and turned him room He slunk away with livid face and two venomous eyes which uttered more threats than his tongue could do I don't know what passed poor dad and him , but the dad came and asked me whether mind apologising to Hudson I refused, imagine, and asked my father how allow such wretch such liberties with himself household

"'"Ah, my boy," said he, " all , but you don't know how placed But you shall know, Victor I'll see that you shall know, come what may You wouldn't believe harm of your poor old father, would you, lad ? " moved, and shut himself up study all day, where I window that writing busily